Tuesday, March 5, 2013

MALDIVES:KEEPING NASHEED ALIVE

B.RAMAN

India has a moral obligation to see that former
President Mohammad Nasheed, who was arrested by Maldivian Commandoes on March
5,2013, in alleged response to a court order to face trial in a case pending
against him, remains alive and is not shown by the Maldivian Government of
President Mohammad Waheed as killed in an encounter while trying to escape from
custody.

2. Even though he might have been arrested
ostensibly in pursuance of a court order, his arrest is a breach of faith on
the part of the Waheed Government. He left the Indian High Commission, where he
had taken sanctuary, in response to assurances regarding his safety and
security. India, which played a role in the negotiations that led to his
leaving his safe sanctuaryin the High
Commission, is a guarantor of the assurances given by the Waheed Government
regarding his safety and security.

3. India should immediately make it clear to former
President Abdul Gayoom, who has allegedly been playing an active
behind-the-scene role in advising the Government of Waheed, that it will hold
him and Waheed personally and morally responsible for the safety and security
of Nasheed and that should anything untoward happen to him while in custody
India would act in the appropriate manner to ensure that solemn assurances
given to India by the Government are not violated with impunity.

4. To underline the seriousness of the Government
of India’s concerns, some ships of our Navy should take up position near the
Maldivian capital so that they can mount an economic blockade should anything
happen to Nasheed . (5-3-13)